Art needlework frame



July 23, 1963 1. M. HARRIS ETAL ART NEEDLEWORK FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 ma 3 mmwm mm V W .l m L m C MM M o 4 9 3 3 E El ATTORNEYS July 23, 1963 M. HARRIS ETAL ART NEEDLEWORK FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1962 FIG.6

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July 23, 1963 HARRIS ETAL 3,098,280

ART NEEDLEWORK FRAME Filed Jan. 15, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I a 5e F|G.9 FIG. IO

INVENTORS IDA M. HARRIS 8 JACK J. HARRIS BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,098,280 ART NEEDLEWORK FRAME Ida M. Harris and Jack J. Harris, both of 20755 Donnybrook Road, Maple Heights, Ohio Filed Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 166,121 21 Claims. (Cl. 28--l5) This invention relates to needlepoint apparatus for supporting fabric material while a design is applied thereto by needlework.

An object of the invention is to provide needlepoint apparatus which is compact in size, light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, and attractive in appearance,

Another object of this invention is the provision of needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated including a frame for supporting cloth, canvas, or the like to be worked on and which frame can be hand supported by a person doing needlepoint or embroidery work, or mounted on a support base which advantageously allows the user to employ both hands in working on the material.

Another object is the provision of needlepoint apparatus wherein material to be worked on can be readily fastened to the frame by manipulation of frame compo nents alone and without the use of separate attaching elements which are not themselves a part of the apparatus.

Another object is to provide needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated wherein the frame is adapted to store material at opposite ends of a working zone of the frame and to be manipulated to introduce unworked material progressively into the working zone and to remove worked material from the working zone.

Another object is to provide needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated wherein the frame is so constructed as to be adapted to be adjusted to accommodate materials of different widths without removing or disassembling any frame components and wherein certain of the frame components are adjustable to place material in the working zone under tension.

A further object of the invention is the provision of needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated wherein the frame is adapted to be mounted on a support base in spaced relation thereabove and in a manner whereby unobstructed access can be had to the underside of material in the working zone substantially completely around the periphery of the frame to facilitate working adjacent the underside of the material.

Still a further object is the provision of needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated wherein the location of the frame above the base can be adjusted readily whereby a person using the mounted frame can select a working position most convenient to him, or a working position most convenient for performing a particular operation on the material in the working zone.

Another object of the invention is to provide needlepoint apparatus of hte character indicated wherein the spacing relationship between the base and frame is in favor of providing compactness of the frame and base as a unit and wherein the base is so constructed that working adjacent the underside of material in the working zone can be achieved substantially free from obstruction by or interference with the base.

Other objects in part will be obvious and in part pointed out more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing representing certain preferred embodiments of the present invention:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a needlepoint frame mounted on a support base;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the frame and sup port;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation of a reel component of the frame, the section being taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of a reel component showing the relationship of inner and outer reel components when fastening material to the reel;

FIGURE 4a is a cross sectional view of a reel showing the material locked in place within the reel;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are cross sectional views of modified forms of reel components in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a cross member of the frame and depicting a locking member associated therewith, the section being taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevation of a cross member and depicting a modified form of locking member associated therewith;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional elevation of a frame cross member and associated tension plate members, the section being taken along the line 99 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a modified form of tension plate members in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 11 is a cross sectional view of the reel component in accordance with another embodiment of this invention.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain featnres of the present invention, it may be noted at this point that a variety of needlepoint devices including frames and stand combinations have heretofore been introduced for use in doing embroidery and needlepoint work on material such as cloth and canvas. Certain of the needlepoint frames heretofore introduced comprise a ring type frame on which material is clamped and Within the periphery of which a material working zone is provided. When the material within the working zone has been provided with a desired pattern, or the boundaries of the working zone have been reached, the frame must be disassembled and a new area of material mounted on the frame within the working zone. Such an assem bling and disassembling operation is time consuming, and, moreover, the material being worked on may become wrinkled and soiled or possibly torn by the clamping action of the ring frame components. Further, during the working operation, the material hangs down about the periphery of the frame making it more difficult to manipulate the needle and yarn, especially when working adjacent the underside of the material in the working zone of the frame. Rectangular frames have been introduced heretofore which provide for storing material outside one end of a working zone of the frame and introducing unworked material to the working zone while removing and storing worked material outside the opposite end of the zone. With rectangular frames, heretofore known, whenever material is supported at its opposite ends by the frame it is often difficult to support the side edges of the material adequately so that these edges are not free to move inwardly of the working zone while the material is being worked on. In this respect, the frames are not adjustable to accommodate materials of different widths. Thus, material which is substantially narrower than the space between opposed components is either not supported at all along its side edges or must be tensioned by means of a lacing cord, adjustable clamps, or the like, extending between the material and the frame. Attempts have been made, also, to mount needlepoint and embroidery frames on supports adapted to rest on a persons lap or on a table or the floor so that a person using the frame can use both hands advantageously to do the needlepoint work. It is diflicult with these stands or supports, however, to manipulate the frame so that the hereinafter.

latter is in a working position comfortable to the user. Further, the frames generally are mounted on the supports in a manner whereby the mounting means obstructs access to the underside of the frame or interferes with movement of the users hands in working adjacent the underside of the frame. It is most desirable to be able to support the frame in a position overlying the lap of the user and it is quite desirable that the user be able to adjust the frame to a working position most comfortable to him, and to other positions which might better position the frame for the user to perform a particular operation on the material or yarn.

An outstanding object of this invention, accordingly, is the provision of compact, high satisfactory needlepoint apparatus comprising a frame adapted to accommodate materials of different widths and support material to be worked on in a manner whereby both worked and unworked material is stored outside a working zone of the frame in a wrinkle free condition and so as not to interfere with movement of the users hands adjacent the frame, which frame is adapted to be mounted on a sup port or base in a manner whereby the working position of the frame can be adjusted readily to suit the user and in which position the underside of the frame is accessible for working substantially free from obstruction by or interference with mounting components.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment represented in FIGURES 1 to 3, inclusive, there is provided needlepoint apparatus including a frame com prised of spaced apart substantially parallel frame components 11 and spaced apart substantially parallel frame components or cross members 12 and 13 extending transversely of components 11 and defining therewith a working zone 14 in which material 15 to be worked on is disposed. Frame components 11 are reels disposed at opposite ends of the working zone and rotatably supported by cross members 12 and 13 which define opposite sides of the working zone. Cross member 12, which may be formed of wood or plastic, is provided with apertures 16 for receiving reels :11 and through which the reels extend, and cross member 13, also formed of wood or plastic, is provided with apertures 17 aligned with corresponding apertures 16 in cross member 12 for receiving reels 11. Each reel includes an outer sleeve 18 of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, and a rod component 19 disposed Within the sleeve for rotation therein relative to the sleeve for the purpose set forth One end of sleeve 18 is provided with a plug 20 having a central aperture 21 therein for rotatably supporting a reduced circular end 22 of rod 19 which extends through the aperture. The other end of sleeve 18 extends through the corresponding aperture 16 in cross member 12 and is provided with a handle 23 by which the reels, comprised of the sleeve and the rod as a unit, can be rotated. Handle 23 has an aperture 23a extending centrally therethrough, and a reduced circular end 24 of rod '19 extends through and is rotatably supported in the aperture 23a and is provided with a handle 25 by which the rod can be rotated relative to the sleeve. Handle 23 includes a portion 26 extending radially outwardly of sleeve 18 and providing an abutting surface 27 to prevent cross member 12 from moving axially off the end of the sleeve. Another abutment component 28, in the form of a washer surrounding sleeve 18 and suitably secured thereto against axial movement relative to the sleeve, engages the side of cross member 12 opposite handle 23. Thus, when handle 23 is in place on sleeve 18, cross member 12 is disposed between the handle and washer 28 which preclude axial movement of cross member 12 relative to sleeve 18.

It will be appreciated that the handle and washer arrangement described above is but one convenient arrangement of parts serving to position cross member 12 on reels 11. Clearly, a washer element could be provided on the handle side of the reel to provide an abutment cooperating with washer 28 in which case the handle could be omitted and the reel rotated by grasping and turning the sleeve. Further, the handle could comprise an apertured element fixed to the sleeve and terminating adjacent the end of the sleeve whereby the rod could terminate at the end of the sleeve and be provided with a handle, or extend beyond the end of the sleeve a distance sufficient for gripping and turning the rod.

Reels 11 are adapted to support opposite ends of material 15, and in this respect sleeve 18 of each reel is provided with a slot 29 extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to receive an end '15a of the material. Rod

19 within the sleeve is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 30 adapted to be aligned with slot 29 to receive material end 15a, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. The outer diameter of rod 19 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the sleeve 18, whereby the outer surface 19a of rod 19 is in close proximity to inner surface 18a of the sleeve. Thus, when end 15a of the material is inserted through the aligned slots and rod 19 is rotated relative to sleeve 18, the material end is pressed against inner surface 18a of the sleeve by the outer surface 19a of rod 19, as illustrated in FIGURE 4a. The slot in rod 19 facilitates the securing of the material to the reel so that the side edges 15b of the material are disposed perpendicular to the axis of the reel. In this respect, the material end 15a is inserted through slot 19a until the innermost edge of the material engages the inner surface of the sleeve 18. Assuming that the innermost edge 15c and side edges 15b of the material are square, the side edges then will extend perpendicular to the sleeve axis and will remain so disposed when rod 19 is rotated to fasten the material end in place Within the sleeve. The rotatable component Within the sleeve does not necessarily have to be a slotted rod, but can be of other forms such as, for example, the paddle 31 illustrated in FIG- URE 5, the tubular component 32 illustrated in FIGURE 6, or the mounted books of FIGURE 11. In the modifi cation illustrated in FIGURE 5, paddle 31 hasan outer edge 31a adapted to be moved relative to the inner surface 33a of a sleeve component 33 to press the material end against inner surface 33a, and in the embodiment represented in FIGURE 6 tubular component 32 has an outer surface 32a in close proximity to the inner surface 34a of a sleeve 34. Tubular component 32 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 35 adapted to receive the material end in a manner similar to rod 19.

The embodiment of FIGURE 11 is provided for use when the supporting material is of a very thin cloth, such as silk, which tends to slip in the mechanisms of the other embodiments where in a pressing action between the inner component and the inner surface of the sleeve are relied upon for securing the material to the reel. The thin material end 15a is inserted into the device past hooks having sharp points 76. Upon rotation of the hook supporting generally semi-circular cross-sectioned inner component 77 within the slotted sleeve component 78, the hooks penetrate the cloth and thereby secure it to the reel. The radius of the outside of inner compartment 77 and the inside of sleeve 78 are such that the end 15a of the material is positioned between the elements upon rotation of the inner member out of alignment with the slot to tension the material 15. The hooks 75 are preferably formed of metal and the supporting inner component 77 of wood or plastic.

Cross member 13 advantageously is adapted to be moved axially of reels 11 whereby the width of working zone 14 can be adjusted for the frame to accommodate materials of diiferent widths. In this respect, slots 36 are provided in the cross member extending radially inwardly from apertures 17, and slots 37 are provided extending radially outwardly from apertures 17 to the corresponding outer edge of the cross member. Slots 36 and 37 open into apertures 17 and divide the apertures into opposed rotation relative to the cross members.

substantially semi-circular openings, as illustrated in FIG- URE 7. Slots 36 and 37 also divide the ends of cross members 13 into upper segments 13a and lower segments 13b. Fastener components in the form of bolts 39 and wing nuts 40 are provided for drawing corresponding upper and lower segments 13a and 13!) toward each other whereby the semi-circular openings comprising the corresponding aperture 17 move toward one another to tightly grip and frictionally lock the corresponding reel 11 against rotation. More specifically, bolts 39 extend through apertures 41 in cross member 13, which apertures are provided in the cross member inwardly of reel receiving apertures 17 and extend through slots 36 in the cross member. By positioning the bolts inwardly of the apertures 17, the outer ends of cross member 13 can be disposed close to the apertures thereby promoting compactness of the apparatus. The bolts, however, could be positioned outwardly of apertures 17 and would function in the same manner if so positioned. It will be readily apparent that bolts 39 and wing nuts 40, in providing for adjusting the position of cross member 13 relative to cross member 12, further serve when tightened to lock the corresponding sleeve 18 frictionally against Thus, as described more fully hereinafter, material disposed in working zone 14 of the frame can be placed under tension in a direction transverse to the reels by locking one reel against rotation, rotating the other reel to place the material under tension, and then looking the second reel against rotation. Although the bolt and wing nut locking means is preferred for locking the reels and cross member 13 in desired positions, the locking means clearly could be of other forms, such as the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 8. In this instance a cross member 42 having a reel receiving aperture 43 is provided with a recess 44 in which seats a pad 45 of sutiable material, such as leather or rubber. A threaded bolt 46 is pro vided in a threaded aperture in the cross member and includes an inner end 46a adapted to engage or be suitably fastened to pad 45. By screwing bolt 46 inwardly, pad 45 is pressed into engagement with a reel extending through aperture 43 whereby the pad and aperture cooperate to frictionally lock the reel against rotation relative to the cross member and the cross member against axial movement along the reel.

In needlepoint or embroidery frames wherein material extends in a flat condition between spaced apart frame components, such as reels 11, it is often desirable to have means associated with the frame for engaging and holding side edges of the material against displacement inwardly of the Working zone. Accordingly, cross members 12 and 13 are provided with side tension means in the form of fixed lower plates 47 and movable upper plates 48. Fixed plates 47 are fastened to the cross members 12 and 13 in recesses 12a and 130, respectively, and in positions between reel components 11 and have a forward portion 47a extending toward the working zone. For ward portion 47a is adapted to underlie material extending between reels 11. Movable plates 48 are pivotally connected to fixed plates 47 by means of hinge elements 49 and are substantailly coextensive with and adapted to close on the fixed plates to engage material 15 therebetween. Each movable plate is provided adjacent its outer end 48a with a plurality of pins 50 adapated to pierce the material when plates 48 are closed on plates 47 so that the material is held between the plates against displacement inwardly of the working zone 14 of the frame. Fixed plates 47 are provided with apertures 51 (see FIGURE 9) positioned to receive corresponding pins 50. Preferably, apertures 51 are larger in diameter than the pins and are deeper than the length of the pins to assure that the opposed inner faces of the plates fully engage the opposite sides of the material. In order to maintain the plates closed while material in the working zone is being worked on, magnet elements 52 and 53 are provided in the fixed and movable plates, respectively, and in positions wherein the magnet elements cooperate upon closing plates 48 on plates 47 to releasably hold plates 48 closed. One of the elements is a magnet and the other element is formed of magnetic material. Another form of holding means for releasably holding the movable plate closed is illustrated in FIGURE 10. In this embodiment a movable plate 54 is provided with pins 55 and a fixed plate 56 is provided with apertures in which are disposed resilient plugs 57 having a central opening 53 smaller in diameter than the pins 55. When plate 54 is closed on plate 56, pins 55 enter corresponding openings 53 in plugs 57 spreading the openings against the resiliency of the plug material which grips the pins to releasably hold plate 54 closed.

In preparing the frame for use, wing nuts 40 are loosened so that cross member 13 can be moved along reels 11 to a position wherein it is spaced from cross member 12 a distance slightly greater than the width of material to be mounted on the frame for working. The wing nuts are then tightened sufiiciently to hold cross member 13 in place, but not so tight as to preclude rotating reels 11. An end of the material then is inserted in slots 29 and 30 of the sleeve 18 and the rod 19, respectively, of one of the reels, and secured in the sleeve by rotating rod 19 relative to sleeve 18. The other end of the material is secured to the other reel in a similar manner. If the material is of a length exceeding the spacing of reels 11, one of the reels is rotated by its handle 23 to wind the material thereabout until only the material in the working zone 14 of the frame is disposed between :the reels, the movable plate members 48 of the side tension devices having been raised previously so that the material rests on the fixed plate members 47. The second reel then is locked against rotation by tightening the corresponding wing nut 40'. The first reel with the material wound'thereabout is then rotated to place the material under tension in a direction transverse to the reels and this reel is then locked against rotation by tightening the corresponding wing nut. Movable plate members 48 are then closed and the pins thereon pierce the material and enter the openings in the fixed plates to hold the material against displacement inwardly of the working zone. When the material in the working zone has been worked, plate members 48 are opened, reels 11 are released to rotate, and unworked material is fed into the working zone from the first reel while the worked material is fed onto the second reel for storage.

In certain cases, particularly when the Working zone 14 is of a sufiiciently small area, it may be economically desirable to provide :the frame Without the side tension devices. In this event, the other novel elements of the needlepoint apparatus still are operative and will pro vide the advantages of this invention attributable to their respective functions.

7 Frame 14} preferably is mounted on a supporting base 60 by means of a connector component 61. Base 60 includes a top member 62 of wood, plastic, or the like, having front and rear sides 63 and 64, respectively, and ends 65. Front side 63 includes an arcuate edge 63a which extends from points adjacent ends 62 toward rear side 64 to define an arcuate recess 66', which serves the purpose set forth hereinafter. Legs 67 are secured to top member 62 such as by screws and extend downwardly therefrom adjacent ends of the top member. Legs 67 are of a length whereby the base can be supported across the lap of a person sitting in a chair or sitting up in a bed. Connector component 61 is adapted to support frame 16 in a working location spaced above top mem ber 62 of the base, and in a manner whereby the user can work adjacent the underside of the frame substantially free from obstruction by or interference with the connector component. In this respect, the connector component is secured to top member 6 2 of base 61 adjacent one of the ends 65 thereof and to the cross member 13 of frame 10. More specifically, connector 61 includes a first connector portion 68 fastened to top member 62 and a second connector portion 69 interconnected with cross member 13 such as by a bracket 70 suitably fastened to cross member 13 and extending outwardly therefrom to connector portion 69. Connector portion 68 includes a detachable ball receiving socket 71, and connector portion 69 is provided with a ball 72, which ball and socket, when assembled, cooperate to pivotally or swivelly support frame above base 60. It will be appreciated that frame 10 is completely free from support other than by connector component 61 and that the space between the frame and top member 62 of the base is unobstructed except for the connector which is disposed adjacent one side of the frame and outside the working zone of the frame. When the frame is in the working location, Working zone 14 of the frame overlies recess 66. Of course, the Working zone and the plane of the material in the working zone can be disposed at any desired angle relative to the upper surface of top member 62 of base 60, and generally will be adjusted to a position in which it is most convenient for the user to work on the material. When the frame is in the working location above base 60, recess 66 in top member 62 of the base facilitates working adjacent the underside of material in the working zone. 'Ihus, should it be most convenient for the user to slant the frame downwardly into the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 wherein the lower reel of the frame is close to top member 62 of the base, the user can maneuver his hand adjacent the underside of material on the frame with relative ease because of the recess in the top member. Thus, compactness of the apparatus is achieved without loss of accessibility to the underside of the frame for working.

The ball and socket connection allows the user to adjust the position of the frame in the working location or to move the frame out of the working location and into a position most convenient for the performance of a particular operation on the material on the frame. It will be noted, too, that the detachable ball socket 71 permits disassembly of the frame and base for purposes of storing the apparatus or using the frame alone, in which latter case the frame would be hand supported by the user.

Although considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the fact that the connector component between the frame and base includes a ball and socket connection, it is to be clearly understood that the connector may include any suitable universal connection or take other forms, such as, for example, a connector supporting the frame in a fixed position over recess 66, or supporting the frame over the recess in a manner whereby movement of the frame is limited to pivotal movements about an axis generally parallel to the axes of reels 11. Further, the recess in the top member of the base may have angular edges rather than the curved edge illustrated herein. Still further, the side tension plate members on the cross members of the frame may be connected for movement relative to one another by means other than hinges. In this respect, the movable plate could be made to reciprocate toward and away from the fixed plate as opposed to pivotally moving relative thereto. Still further, the connector component for supporting the frame above the base could be connected to cross member 12 rather than member 13, still in accordance with the present invention.

As many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and as many possible changes may be made in the embodiments herein set forth, it will be distinctly understood that all matter described herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation.

The invention claimed is:

:1. Needlepoint apparatus comprising a frame for supporting material to be worked on in a working zone of the frame, said frame including spaced apart substantially parallel reels at opposite ends of the zone for holding opposite ends of the material and cross members extending transversely of and rotatably supporting the reels and defining sides of the working zone, one of said cross members being axially movable relative to the reels whereby the width of the zone can be adjusted to accommodate materials of different widths, means on the one of said cross members to lock said reels against rotation and said one cross member against movement axially of the reels, a base for said frame including a top member and legs extending downwardly therefrom, said top member having sides and ends and a recess extending from one of said sides toward the other side, and connector means adapted to support said frame in a working location spaced above said base, said connector means being secured to said top member adjacent an end thereof and to one of said cross members, the space between the frame and top member being otherwise unobstructed, the working zone of said frame overlying said recess when said frame is in the working location, whereby said recess facilitates working adjacent the underside of material in said working zone, said connector means including a pivotable joint for adjusting the position of said frame in the working location.

2. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 1 wherein said reels include a rotatable inner component having hooks disposed thereon for engaging an end of the material and a relatively rotatable slotted outer sleeve.

3. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a pivotable joint permitting adjustment of the frame relative to the supporting base.

4. Needlepoint apparatus comprising a frame for supporting material to be worked on in a working zone of the frame, said frame including spaced apart and substantially parallel reels at opposite ends of the zone for holding opposite ends of the material, said reels including an outer sleeve having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of said material and a rotatable component within the sleeve for pressing the end of the material against the inner surface of the sleeve to hold the end in place within the sleeve, a first cross member extending transversely of said reels and defining a first side of the working zone and having apertures to receive and rotatably support the reels, said reels being provided with means to prevent displacement of said first cross member axially of the reels, a second cross member extending transversely of said reels and defining a second side of the working zone and having apertures to receive and rotatably support the reels, said second cross member being movable along said reels toward and away from said first cross member and being provided with locking means for releasably holding it in position relative to said first cross member, said locking means further serving to lock said reels releasably against rotation relative to the cross members, said first and second cross members being provided with tension means for engaging material in the working zone at locations between said reels to hold the material against displacement inwardly of the sides of the zone, said tension means including a fixed plate member on each cross member and a movable plate member adapted to close with the fixed plate for the plate members to hold said material therebetween, said movable plate member having pins for piercing said material and said fixed plate member having apertures to receive said pins when the plate members are closed, a base for supporting said frame including a top member having legs extending downwardly therefrom, said top member having sides and ends, one of said sides having an arcuate edge defining a recess extending toward the other side, and connector means adapted to support said frame in a working location spaced above said top member, said connector means being secured to said top member adjacent an end thereof and to said second cross member of the frame, the space between said frame and top member being otherwise unobstructed, said frame overlying said recess when the frame is in the working location whereby said recess facilitates working adjacent the underside of material supported by the frame.

5. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 1, wherein said connector means includes a universal joint permitting adjustment of the position of the frame in the working location.

6. Needlepoint apparatus comprising a needlepoint frame for supporting material to be worked on in a working zone of the frame, said frame including spaced apart substantially parallel reels at opposite ends of the working zone for holding opposite ends of said material, at least one of said reels including an outer sleeve having a longitudinally extending slot adapted to receive an end of the material and means within the sleeve rotatable relative thereto for engaging the material to retain the end in place within the sleeve, and spaced apart cross members extending transversely of said reels and defining opposite sides of the Working Zone, said cross members supporting said reels for rotation relative thereto, one of said cross members being provided with means to lock said reels against rotation.

7. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 6 wherein said means within the sleeve includes a plurality of hooks for piercingly holding the end of the material.

8. Needlepoint apparatus comprising a needlepoint frame for supporting material to be worked on in a working zone of the frame, said frame including spaced apart substantially parallel reels at opposite ends of the working zone for holding opposite ends of said material, at least one of said reels including an outer sleeve having a longitudinally extending slot adapted to receive an end of the material and means within the sleeve rotatable relative thereto for engaging and pressing said end of the material against the inner surface of the sleeve to retain the end in place within the sleeve, and spaced apart cross members extending transversely of said reels and defining opposite sides of the working zone, said cross members supporting said reels for rotation relative thereto, one of said cross members being provided with means to lock said reels against rotation.

9. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 8, and tension means on said cross members for engaging material in the working zone at locations between said reels to hold the material against displacement inwardly of the sides of the zone.

10. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 4, wherein said tension means include an upper and a lower plate, one of which plates is fixed to the corresponding cross member and the other of which plates is movable relative to the one plate and closable thereupon, said upper and lower plates being adapted to engage material in the working zone therebetween when the plates are closed, said movable plate being provided with a plurality of pins for piercing and holding said material, and said fixed plate having apertures for receiving pins when the plates are closed.

11. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 10, and means to releasably hold said plates in the closed position.

12. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 11, wherein said holding means for the plates includes a magnet element attached to one of said plates and an element of magnetic material attached to the other of said plates.

13. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 8, wherein said means within said sleeve is a circular rod having a longitudinally extending slot adapted to be aligned with said slot in said sleeve to receive said end of the material, said rod having an outer surface in close proximity to the inner surface of said sleeve whereby upon rotation of said rod relative to the sleeve said end 10 of the material is pressed against the inner surface of said sleeve.

14. Needlepoint apparatus comprising a needlepoint frame for supporting material to be worked on in a. working zone of the frame, said frame including spaced apart substantially parallel reels at opposite ends of the working zone for holding opposite ends of said material, said reels including an outer sleeve having a longitudinally extending slot adapted to receive an end of the material and means within said sleeve rotatable relative thereto and adapted to engage and press said end of the material against the inner surface of the sleeve to retain the end in place within the sleeve, and spaced apart cross members extending transversely of said reels, and defining opposite sides of the working zone, said cross members having apertures for receiving and rotatably supporting said reels, one of said cross members being adapted to be moved axially of said reels whereby the width of the working zone can be varied for the frame to accommodate materials of different widths, said one of said cross members being provided with means to lock said reels against rotation and said one cross member against axial movement, and tension means on said cross members for engaging material in the working zone at locations between said reels to hold the material against displacement inwardly of the sides of the zone.

15. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 14, wherein said means within said sleeve is a circular rod having a longitudinally extending slot adapted to be moved into alignment with said slot in said sleeve to receive said end of the material, said rod having an outer surface in close proximity to the inner surface of said sleeve whereby upon rotation of said rod relative to the sleeve, said end of the material is pressed against the inner surface of said sleeve.

16. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 14, wherein said tension means include an upper plate member and a lower plate member adapted to engage material in the working zone therebetween when said plate members are closed, said lower plate member being fixed to the corresponding cross member and said upper plate member being hingedly connected to the lower plate member for movement relative thereto and provided with pins for piercing and holding the material, said lower plate member having apertures to receive said pins when the plate members are closed, and means to releasably hold said plate members in the closed position.

17. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 16, wherein said holding means for the plate mem bers includes a magnet in one of the plate members and an element of magnetic material in the other plate member, said magnet and element being cooperatively positioned relative to one another when the plate members are closed.

18. Needlepoint apparatus comprising a needlepoint frame for supporting material to be worked on in a working zone of the frame, said frame including spaced apart substantially parallel reels at opposite ends of the working zone for holding opposite ends of the material, said reels including an outer sleeve having a longitudinally extending slot for receiving an end of the material and a rotatable component Within the sleeve for pressing the end of the material against the inner surface of the sleeve to hold the end in place within the sleeve, cross members extending transversely of said reels and defining opposite sides of the working zone, said cross members having apertures to receive and rotatably support the reels, at least one of said reels including means to prevent displacement of one of said cross members axially of the reels, the other of said cross members being movable along said reels to provide for adjusting the distance between the cross members, said other cross member being provided with locking means for releasably holding it in position on the reels and for releasably holding the reels against rotation relative to the cross members, and tension means on cross members for engaging material in the working zone at locations between the reels to hold the material against displacement inwardly of the sides of the zone.

19. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 18, wherein said tension means on said cross members each includes a lower plate member fixed to the corresponding cross member, and an upper plate member hinged to the lower plate member and closable therewith to engage said material therebetween, said upper plate member including a plurality of pins adapted to pierce the material and said lower plate member having apertures to receive said pins when the plate members are closed.

20. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 18, wherein the other of said cross members has slots extending radially of the apertures therein and opening thereinto to divide said apertures into opposed substantially semicircular recesses, and wherein soi-d locking means includes a fastener component adjacent each aperture and extending through said cross member and a slot extending from the corresponding aperture, said fastener component being adjustable to move the opposed recesses of the corresponding aperture toward one another into tight engagement with the corresponding reel.

. 21. Needlepoint apparatus of the character indicated in claim 18, wherein said means on said reels include spaced apart abutment components mounted on said sleeve and adapted to receive the one of said cross members therebetween, one of said abutment components serving as a handle for rotating said reel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 378,901 Parcelle Mar. 6, 1888 707,353 Post Aug. 19, 1902 1,302,421 Okihara Apr. 29, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS 711,148 Great Britain June 23, 1954 

1. NEEDLEPOINT APPARATUS COMPRISING A FRAME FOR SUPPORTING MATERIAL TO BE WORKED ON IN A WORKING ZONE OF THE FRAME, SAID FRAME INCLUDING SPACED APART SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL REELS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE ZONE FOR HOLDING OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE MATERIAL AND CROSS MEMBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE REELS AND DEFINING SIDES OF THE WORKING ZONE, ONE OF SAID CROSS MEMBERS BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE REELS WHEREBY THE WIDTH OF THE ZONE CAN BE ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS, MEANS ON THE ONE OF SAID CROSS MEMBERS TO LOCK SAID REELS AGAINST ROTATION AND SAID ONE CROSS MEMBER AGAINST MOVEMENT AXIALLY OF THE REELS, A BASE FOR SAID FRAME INCLUDING A TOP MEMBER AND LEGS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID TOP MEM- 